WILL "BLACK POSTER CHILD FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY" BE BUSH RUNNING MATE? Last Summer the Southern Leadership Republican Conference choose George Bush and J.C. Watts in a straw vote. Now it's described as "a ticket with the potential to unify a country." In his piece on Watts, Clarence Page writes that the success of George and Jeb "has sensitized the Republican mind to race, gender and ethnicity," but there is a "Republican paradox about race. While they insist to the public that race shouldn't matter, their actions show that it matters to them very much." 11/25

TEXAS 101: FOR OUR NON-NATIVE READERS. Kelso reports on a folk ritual and explains why the Aggies stand up during football games. 11/25

BUSH SPINMEISTER DEFENDS GUV'S POLICY. ELECTRIC UTILITIES ALLOWED TO CONTINUE POISONING AIR. DMN SAYS MERCURY VAPORS CAN CAUSE IRREVERSIBLE BRAIN DAMAGE. Older industrial facilities are excluded from the Texas Clean Air Act but George has asked them to voluntarily comply. 15,000 post cards received by his office yesterday suggest his plan is not working. It "has no goals, it fails to protect public health and all it really does is leave a lethal loophole wide open." Yet, Karen Hughes, speaking for Bush, said, "The air is cleaner in Texas today because of the leadership of Governor Bush." Politex asks, "Cleaner than what?" Goes on to say, "This is typical of the way Bush operates. In response to an obvious hot button issue, such as pollution, he comes up with a token solution that doesn't really solve the problem but can be spun by a representative to make it appear to solve the problem. Meanwhile, he keeps out of the line of fire. His ultimate goal is to maximize establishment profit while appearing to be working in the best interests of all Texans." 11/24

2000 PRESIDENTIAL RACE SEEN AS KEY TO "TRIPLE WITCHING HOUR." "The parties are as evenly balanced as any time in American history," and the behavior of the candidates for President will most likely tip the balance. 11/24

THE TALE OF TWO INTERVIEWS. AS PREZ, "CEO" BUSH WILL "SELL" GOP "PACKAGE" UNDER HIS BRAND NAME: "THE VISION." In "U.S. News" we learn he's for "delegating." He tells the folks at "Newsweek" that he "can listen" and "sell the case." Here is what Politex said last February: "Bush came into office with the knowledge that the less he said and did, the less he would mess up. He usually had others carry out his legislative plans and stayed far away if they went down in flames. When he placed himself on the line with what he thought were popular positions, on property taxes and public education, for example, he had not thought through the ramifications of those positions and ended up with egg on his face. One area in which he has had success is pushing bills that give money to his friends, the wealthy, and large business institutions, tort "reform" and HMO's, for instance. Are you surprised to learn that those three groups overlap?" 11/23

1999 WILL BE THE YEAR OF THE GOVERNORS IN THE GOP, AND EYES ARE ON W. "His name is Bush, he comes from the second largest state, he's got the money and he's the media favorite," says Wisconsin's Gov. Thompson. 11/22

WHAT'S IN A NAME? GUV COMPLAINS ABOUT LAST NAME. "I've inherited all my father's enemies and half of his friends," Bush asserts. Talking about names, he was called "Tweeds" and "The Lip" at Andover and now answers to "Bushie" (his wife) and "Junior" (his cousin). More omninous for Texans, his nickname for Perry is "Mad Dog." 11/22

GUV TO TAKE "NON-POLITICAL" TRIP TO ISRAEL, BUT WHO BELIEVES HIM? The DMN reports that "in the last six months (he) has had briefings with foreign-policy experts from his father's presidential administration," and the AAS reminds us that "governors who run for president always face questions about their foreign policy expertise." Yet, George says, "I don't think (the trip is) political at all. I'm sure some will try to read politics into it." There's no doubt, however, that W. can use all the foreign policy help he can get, as evidenced by yet another example of dadspeak: "I readily concede that in foreign policy, I've only had one foreign policy component in my governorship, and that's with Mexico." Of course, that's not counting Texas Rangers road trips to Canada. 11/21

UT PROF WAS ARRESTED FOR PROTEST DURING BUSH READING. Here's a report of last week's rumble in the rotunda from the outside looking in. (third item) 11/21

JEB AND GEORGE STAR AT GUVS' CONFERENCE BUT NEGLECT TO MENTION VOUCHER PLANS. Although W. described his education initiatives in an address, the brothers' respective voucher plans apparently were not included. 11/20

THIS JUST IN. Yesterday at the House hearings, "Ken Starr sat at the witness table on top of a briefcase, 'which made him appear taller.'" 11/20

"BOY GEORGE" REPORTEDLY "FENDING OFF TIRED RETAINERS FROM FATHER'S ADMINISTRATION" WHILE WOOING THEOCRATS One report has the Guv retaining Ralph Reed as adviser, another has him being offered "Muslim extremism" as a "foreign policy issue." 11/19

NO GRAPHICS POLITICAL CARTOON: GEORGE AND JEB, THE BUSH BROTHERS. "To middle-America they evoke the endearing sibling banter of the Smothers Brothers. To corporate G.O.P. they have the oil-rich smell of the Hunt Brothers. To the radical right they're a new liberal dynasty like the Kennedy Brothers. To Republican moderates they're a soothing palliative for a sore, irritated party like the Smith Brothers." (Steve Brodner, NYT, 11/17) 11/19

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GUV'S RECORD IN LIGHT OF "STANDARDS FOR IMPEACHABLE OFFENSES." From the "Argentine Enron Overture" to the "Koon Kreek Klub," we learn about "affirmative action," "tax reform," and "corporate welfare" for the rich and how "welfare reform" will help the poor gain "personal responsibility." 11/18

CORKY AT THE "TEXAS BUSH FESTIVAL": HE STILL DOESN'T GET IT. Last weekend the nation was 15 minutes away from the most devastating attack on Iraq since Desert Storm. Meanwhile, Austin dishmeister Michael Corcoran spent Friday evening having his 15 minutes of semi-fame at a black-tie Bush bash as he sat at an "A-plus table" in a rented tux with his "new well-heeled friends." On Saturday Papa Bush appeared at Laura Bush's book festival as author of "A World Transformed," part of which focuses on the Gulf War, co-written with his national security advisor, Brent Scowcroft. Yet, Corky didn't understand what the fuss was about when protesters tried to shout Bush down (see 11/15). After all, the dishmeister opines, "the most powerful button Bush has had his finger on in the last six years is the one that opens the garage door." 11/18

DELL TO BUSH: KEEP DOING NOTHING AND WE'RE BEHIND YOU! Texas Cyberguru Gary Chapman claims computer fat cats want to play with mice without government interference. 11/17

DADSPEAK. In an interview last week W. said, "If I decide to (run for President), it will be to restore the promise of America. And I'll define what that means later." (DMN,11/15) For more dadspeak, click on "Voter's Friend" on the left.11/l7

BUSHONOMICS 101: DAD + UNCLE= $$$. Would you invest $1 mil in a company with a book value of $382,000? The Guv's Arbusto company ("Bush" in spanish) took in $4.7M and returned $1.5M for a 68% investment loss. A family friend recalls he got back 20% of his investment. Yet, George listed that experience as a qualification during his first run for governor. A Washington watchdog notes there "are ways people can establish long-term relationships that may prove vastly more fruitful than their original dollar investment in some start-up company." 11/16

PETER JENNINGS ON ABC NEWS HAS NOVEMBER SWEEPS EXPOSE OF "SESAME STREET." Last Friday at 6, Jennings got the producer of the kid's show to confess to what "letters" have accused it of being. "Sesame Street" is "multi-cultural." 11/16

PAPA LOSES HIS COOL AS PRO-IRAQ PROTESTERS TRY TO SHOUT HIM DOWN DURING LAURA BUSH'S BOOK FESTIVAL IN TX. CAPITOL. As KVUE-TV showed former President Bush shouting back "weapons of mass construction" (sic) at the protesters, Politex remembered William Safire's question in San Antonio last week: "Would (the Guv) dare to criticize his father's decision in letting Saddam Hussein off the hook? Where does he stand on the Middle East?" In a broader perspective, how will "compassionate conservativism" play in Kosovo? 11/15

"ELLOS DICEN INVESTIGACION; NOSOTROS DECIMOS INSPIRACION." MERENGUE-DANCING GORE RAPS IN SPANISH TO ONE-UP BUSH. "We say legislate, the Republicans say investigate." Will Al's Vice-President be Latino? 11/15

BUSH/VENTURA TICKET NOT IN CARDS AFTER JEB INSULTS HIM AT GUV'S SCHOOL Jeb: My bro' will "kick your butt!" Jesse: No Texan can shame me! 11/15

CARPETBAGGING COMMENTATORS KNOW LITTLE ABOUT TX. POLITICS: THEY THINK W. "HAS BEEN, UH, GOVERNING." And if the Guv is really interested in education, queries Molly, why is he trying to fund education with a property tax? 11/14

BUSH OPPONENT QUAYLE PROVIDES "VISION" FOR 22 PAID ADMISSI0NS IN 2,000 SEAT AUDITORIUM. Dan puts in call for "blacks, Hispanics." 11/14

SATURDAY SPECIAL: ADVENTURES IN COURT LAND. Lawyer: "All your responses must be oral, ok? What school did you go to?" Witness: "Oral." 11/14

GEORGE, THE "AUSTIN SPHINX," IS STEPHANOPOULOS' "NOT" CANDIDATE. From Papa Bush to Brother Bush and Baby Bush, the family can "vacuum up a ton of money" that will more than match Forbes' anticipated "avalanche of negative television ads." 11/13

"BUSH DESCRIBES HIMSELF AS A, QUOTE, 'COMPASSIONATE CONSERVATIVE,' WHICH IN TEXAS MEANS he asks you how you like your Jello just before he flips the switch." --Craig Kilborn, "The Daily Show" 11/13

WILL JEB GET GEORGE THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN VOTE? "Who are all those black people on the victory stand with Jeb?" 11/12

BUSH/PERRY/WILSON ALERT: CAL SAYS VOUCHERS WORK IN MILWAUKEE. NOT FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS, ANSWERS PROGRAM'S FOUNDER. "I knew from the beginning that white Republicans and rich, right-wing foundations that praised me and used me to validate their agenda would do it as long as it suited their needs," (Annette Polly) Willians said. "I knew that once they figured they didn't need me as a black cover, they would try to take control of vouchers and used them for their own selfish interests." 11/12

THEOCRAT CLAIMS GUV HARMED TEXAS GOP EFFORTS TO TAKE HOUSE AND IMPLEMENT VOUCHER, ANTI-ABORTION, AND ANTI-GAY LEGISLATION. William McKenzie warns they'll have pleanty of time for "loony bills" and irrelevant, divisive, time and money wasting wranglings once Bush has us in his rear view mirror. Politex believes W. does what he has to do in order to continue the myth of "compassionate conservatism" in Texas for national consumption. 11/11

SEN. PHIL GRAMM ET AL. ARE DOING "THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE." HERE'S HOW. 11/11

GUERRA TO BUSH: STAY IN TEXAS OR SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES. If "the hard-core religious conservatives, xenophobes, language purists and closet racists still firmly entrenched in the inner-workings of the national GOP" don't get him during the primaries, his inability to demonstrate quick thinking or articulate efficiency makes him cannon fodder for opponents such as Pat Buchanan and the viciously competitive journalists who will see the Guv as part of their daily diet. 11/10

TEXAS WATCH: LIVINGSTON, THE NEWT KILLER, IS TOP FREEPORT MCMORAN MONEY MAN AND FATHER OF ETHICS RULES THAT HELPED DROP CHARGES AGAINST DELAY. Courteous, charming, and lethal, foes say he's created "the Corrupt Politicians Protection Act" and slashed $50 billion in social programs. 11/10

NO GRAPHICS POLITICAL CARTOONS. Man with scope rifle: "Life begins at conception and ends when you disagree with me." (Signe Wilkinson, 11/9) Q: "Are low voter turnouts due to ignorance or apathy?" A: "I don't know and I don't care." (Gary Markstein, 11/9) 11/10

KRISTOL: BUSH ATTITUDE "DECISIVE THING" THAT LED TO GINGRICH OUSTER. "Look, I'm probably going to run for President. I think I can get the nomination. If I lose the presidency to Al Gore, I want it to be because of my own mistakes, not because of Newt Gingrich." Sound like the Guv? 11/9

MOST POETIC DESCRIPTION IN THE CAMPAIGN. A Mauro worker described his circumstance thusly: "I feel like I'm on a flaming toboggan to hell." (AAS,11/8) 11/9

THEOCRATS THREATEN BUSH PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDACY Although "an open-the-tent healer like the Texas governor is (GOP's) best shot...if you're already doing God's will, isn't accomodation just another name for compromising with the devil?" 11/8

CAL THOMAS GIVES ADVICE TO THEOCRATS: BACK OFF! (CAL THOMAS!!). Conservative columnist says "If the Christian Coalition wants to have real impact, it should contemplate what it maens to be truly Christian and focus less on political coalitions." Thomas opines that the CC will not have much power in 2000 as the GOP will "do whatever is necessary to win back the White House," and that doesn't include backing the theocrat's agenda. (LAT,11/4) 11/8

"SHE LIKES A NICE TAN, AND I HAVE A LARGE LAWN." Mother defends voters' decision to allow daughter to mow lawn topless in what has to be the nation's wackiest election battle. 11/8

BUSH COATTAILS DIDN'T STRETCH TO N.C. Guv campaigned, raised $ for untraconservative loser, pig farmer Sen. Lauch Faircloth. Now, D.C. citizens are celebrating in the streets, but dread arrival of Kay Baby. 11/7

WHAT TO DO IF YOU PICKED A LO$ER? GET ON THE MONEY TRAIN! Political consultants called GOP state political director Royal Masset's advice crude but correct. Masset recently wrote to potential GOP House election winners, "When you win, every lobbyist in the state wants to be your friend. Make them pay plenty to get on your late train." Since no money can change hands 30 days before or during a legislative session, Masset advised his readers that November would be a good time for a "late train reception." A Republican spokesman called the Masset memo "completly unauthorized" and "completly inappropriate," but consultant Bill Miller said, "Late trains run in all elections." Now we know what new Land Commish and multimillionaire David Dewhurst had in mind when he loaned millions to his campaign. (AAS, 11/4) 11/7

PROPOSED NEW TEXAS STATE CONSTITUTION WILL TAKE CITIZENS' POWERS AND GIVE THEM TO GOVERNOR. Elimination of vote for Land, Agriculture, Railroad, State Board of Education, and judges would put those appointments in the Guv's hands. 11/6

WHY BUSH CAN'T MAKE UP HIS MIND. 11/6

POLITEX SELECTS THE CAMPAIGN'S MERCHANTS OF SLEAZE. The worst was a "racist" radio ad from Mexico with no identification of its political source, smearing Dem John Sharp as anti-Latino, recommending votes for the Latino Libertarian candidate, and paid for by GOP candidate Rick Perry's media company in Virginia. (see below) A close second was reported by Bruce Davidson: "In what may the tackiest campaign stunt in Bexar County this year, Democratic judicial candidates Mario Del Prado and Barbara Nellermoe were politicking Wednesday in a city neighborhood devastated by the recent floods. The two were seen walking on F Street as East Side residents labored to salvage what they could. Nellermoe approached a woman whose home was ruined, handed her a palm card and asked for her vote, according to one witness. The woman had just lost everything she owned." 11/6

BUSH'S POST-ELECTION BLUES. IN HIS OWN WORDS. "I don't know whether it's the anti-climax or I'm too tired to enjoy anything, but I just seem to be losing my perspective...Nudging things, worrying about things; phone calls...trying to keep things moving forward; managing a massive project...I don't seem to have the drive...Sniping, carping, bitching, predictable editorial complaints, the newsboys of the world...The cynical liberalism...(Trudeau), a little elitist who is spoiled, derisive, ugly, and nasty...Sometimes I really like the spotlight, but I'm tired of it...Well, I'm sure this is just a stage and I'll get through it, but this is what I'm feeling on March 13th." (Herbert Parmet, "George Bush." N.Y., 1997, p. 488.) 11/5

PREZ WATCH: BUSH REWARDS INSURANCE COMMISH WITH PROMOTION TO SENIOR ADVISER. After the insurance industry's "record profits in the last few years thanks to lawsuit reforms" favoring corporate interests at the consumer's expense, Elton Bomer will become an aide to W. as he pursues the presidency. 11/5

WOULD YOU SPEND $4/VOTE FOR 2 MILLION VOTES TO BECOME LAND COMMISH? THAT'S WHAT DAVID DEWHURST DID, AND $7 MIL WAS HIS OWN MONEY! In another state agency, Carole Rylander wants to appoint Sen. Phil Gramm's wife to head a "streamline" commission. 11/5

WHAT WILL WE TELL THE CHILDREN ABOUT THE ELECTION? THE TRUTH.

BUSH TUBE TALK.Woodward: "Ten years ago when I interviewed him he came across as a nervous kid." DeeDee: "He reached out to minority voters." Fitzwater: "He's a conservative who has moved into a centrist position." Christine Todd Whitman: "A Bush insider said we don't like one another? I like George." Dad: "A Bush/Bush presidential team? I'm not going to run!" New Bushisms: "Educational Savings Accounts" (Vouchers) and "Faith-Based Institutions" (Churches and Political Organizations). 11/4

THEOCRATS FAIL IN BID TO TAKE OVER STATE SCHOOL BOARD. Nunez beats back Ballard challange in El Paso with 60% of the vote. However, the Theocrats expanded their voting bloc to 6, not counting the conservative Republicans who often vote with them to form a majority. 11/4

GOP "8 in '98" STATE HOUSE MAJORITY BID FAILS IN SPITE OF MILLIONS ADDED IN OCTOBER. It was Republicans $2 million, Democrats $850,00, but record amounts of cash did not win it this time, perhaps because it was poured into 16 different districts. Bush party also loses one state Senate seat, making that majority 16-15. 11/4

THE PREDICTIONS: GEORGE STRONG GOES OUT ON A LIMB. Now it's up to the voters not to saw it off. 11/3

GOP PLANS TO FLOOD 11 BLACK, HISPANIC HOUSTON-AREA PRECINCTS WITH CROWDS OF POLL WATCHERS. Dems cry "intimidation," national warnings remind GOP that video cameras are illegal. 11/3

OPPEL "FAWNS" AS BUSH ROAMS. Is Bush "above scrutiny" at Austin's "Statesman"? 11/3

UTSA PROF CLAIMS 2 EXTRA DEM VOTES PER BORDER PRECINCT WOULD "ABSOLUTELY" ELECT SHARP, MADDOX, AND HOBBY. 11/3

REPUBLICANS ATTEMPT TO BUY TEXAS HOUSE WITH $2 MILLION IN LAST MONTH. Needing 8 additional seats to take control, 15 GOP candidates in targeted races were each given over $100,000. 11/3

CAMPAIGN FOOTNOTE: DAVE MC NEELY SAYS PERRY CAMPAIGN CONSULTANT DAVID CARNEY USES ATTACK ADS AND "WAS A DISCIPLE" OF LEE (WILLIE HORTON) ATWOOD. (AAS,10/2) For an informative overview of Atwood campaign tactics, Barbara's dislike of him, and the Guv's job to keep an eye on him, see CUNY History Professor Herbert Parmet's "George Bush." (1997) 11/3

ANTI-SHARP AD CALLED "RACIST" BY SOUTH TEXAS LATINOS. SHARP DEMANDS PERRY APOLOGIZE. 11/2

"WALKING THE PLANKS": EXCERPTS FROM THE PARTY PLATFORMS. 11/2

PERRY, PESTICIDES, AND PERCEPTION. 11/2

BUSH BACKS "CORRUPT," "DISGUSTING" JUDICIAL SYSTEM. 11/2

DELL TO BUSH: KEEP DOING NOTHING AND WE'RE BEHIND YOU! Texas Cyberguru claims computer fat cats want to play with mice without government interference. Writing in yesterday's business section of the "Statesman," Gary Chapman, director of U. of Tx.'s 21st Century Project and hi-tech columnist for LAT, asserted that Garry Mauro's attack on Bush as a do-nothing governor fell on deaf ears among the "Dellionaries." "Bush has tended to stay away from technology issues, which may be why tech leaders like him so much...(His) lack of an ambitious agenda seemed to be exactly what appealed to high-tech leaders." Politex infers that the kind of governmental regulations the cyberfolk welcome are those that contribute to the education of the workers, but stop short of having anything to do with their fiefdoms: "(They) want the government to leave their businesses alone." While the UT director notes that the outsider's commonly perceived view of Texas as an economy of cowboys and oil gushers is out of date, he manages to bring in a few gushers of his own in his commentary, offering a glowing description of the state's high-tech industry and players and an equally burnished analysis of the Guv's abilities that rivals anything his PR people could have done. Naturally, problems cloud Chapman's rosey picture. On the one hand there's Gore who, as President, would demand "a somewhat tense accommodation" between high-tech businesses and the Democrats. On the other, "Christian-right activists clearly would prefer a far more conservative candidate (than the Guv)...(and) that prospect may even amplify high-tech's attraction to Bush, because the religious right scares them too." 11/17